the house of pride and other tales of hawaii-第8章

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These　deportations　occurred　about　once　a　month；　when；　the　last　good…

byes　said；　the　lepers　were　marched　on　board　the　little　steamer；　the　

Noeau；　and　carried　down　to　the　settlement。　　



One　afternoon；　writing　letters　at　the　club；　Jack　Kersdale　dropped　in　

on　me。



〃Just　the　man　I　want　to　see；〃　was　his　greeting。　　〃I'll　show　you　the　

saddest　aspect　of　the　whole　situationthe　lepers　wailing　as　they　

depart　for　Molokai。　　The　Noeau　will　be　taking　them　on　board　in　a　few　

minutes。　　But　let　me　warn　you　not　to　let　your　feelings　be　harrowed。　　

Real　as　their　grief　is；　they'd　wail　a　whole　sight　harder　a　year　

hence　if　the　Board　of　Health　tried　to　take　them　away　from　Molokai。　　

We've　just　time　for　a　whiskey　and　soda。　　I've　a　carriage　outside。　　

It　won't　take　us　five　minutes　to　get　down　to　the　wharf。〃



To　the　wharf　we　drove。　　Some　forty　sad　wretches；　amid　their　mats；　

blankets；　and　luggage　of　various　sorts；　were　squatting　on　the　

stringer　piece。　　The　Noeau　had　just　arrived　and　was　making　fast　to　a　

lighter　that　lay　between　her　and　the　wharf。　　A　Mr。　McVeigh；　the　

superintendent　of　the　settlement；　was　overseeing　the　embarkation；　

and　to　him　I　was　introduced；　also　to　Dr。　Georges；　one　of　the　Board　

of　Health　physicians　whom　I　had　already　met　at　Kalihi。　　The　lepers　

were　a　woebegone　lot。　　The　faces　of　the　majority　were　hideoustoo　

horrible　for　me　to　describe。　　But　here　and　there　I　noticed　fairly　

good…looking　persons；　with　no　apparent　signs　of　the　fell　disease　

upon　them。　　One；　I　noticed；　a　little　white　girl；　not　more　than　

twelve；　with　blue　eyes　and　golden　hair。　　One　cheek；　however；　showed　

the　leprous　bloat。　　On　my　remarking　on　the　sadness　of　her　alien　

situation　among　the　brown…skinned　afflicted　ones；　Doctor　Georges　

replied：…



〃Oh；　I　don't　know。　　It's　a　happy　day　in　her　life。　　She　comes　from　

Kauai。　　Her　father　is　a　brute。　　And　now　that　she　has　developed　the　

disease　she　is　going　to　join　her　mother　at　the　settlement。　　Her　

mother　was　sent　down　three　years　agoa　very　bad　case。〃



〃You　can't　always　tell　from　appearances；〃　Mr。　McVeigh　explained。　　

That　man　there；　that　big　chap；　who　looks　the　pink　of　condition；　with　

nothing　the　matter　with　him；　I　happen　to　know　has　a　perforating　

ulcer　in　his　foot　and　another　in　his　shoulder…blade。　　Then　there　are　

othersthere；　see　that　girl's　hand；　the　one　who　is　smoking　the　

cigarette。　　See　her　twisted　fingers。　　That's　the　anaesthetic　form。　　

It　attacks　the　nerves。　　You　could　cut　her　fingers　off　with　a　dull　

knife；　or　rub　them　off　on　a　nutmeg…grater；　and　she　would　not　

experience　the　slightest　sensation。〃



〃Yes；　but　that　fine…looking　woman；　there；〃　I　persisted；　〃surely；　

surely；　there　can't　be　anything　the　matter　with　her。　　She　is　too　

glorious　and　gorgeous　altogether。〃



〃A　sad　case；〃　Mr。　McVeigh　answered　over　his　shoulder；　already　

turning　away　to　walk　down　the　wharf　with　Kersdale。



She　was　a　beautiful　woman；　and　she　was　pure　Polynesian。　　From　my　

meagre　knowledge　of　the　race　and　its　types　I　could　not　but　conclude　

that　she　had　descended　from　old　chief　stock。　　She　could　not　have　

been　more　than　twenty…three　or　four。　　Her　lines　and　proportions　were　

magnificent；　and　she　was　just　beginning　to　show　the　amplitude　of　the　

women　of　her　race。



〃It　was　a　blow　to　all　of　us；〃　Dr。　Georges　volunteered。　　〃She　gave　

herself　up　voluntarily；　too。　　No　one　suspected。　　But　somehow　she　had　

contracted　the　disease。　　It　broke　us　all　up；　I　assure　you。　　We've　

kept　it　out　of　the　papers；　though。　　Nobody　but　us　and　her　family　

knows　what　has　become　of　her。　　In　fact；　if　you　were　to　ask　any　man　

in　Honolulu；　he'd　tell　you　it　was　his　impression　that　she　was　

somewhere　in　Europe。　　It　was　at　her　request　that　we've　been　so　quiet　

about　it。　　Poor　girl；　she　has　a　lot　of　pride。〃



〃But　who　is　she？〃　I　asked。　　〃Certainly；　from　the　way　you　talk　about　

her；　she　must　be　somebody。〃



〃Did　you　ever　hear　of　Lucy　Mokunui？〃　he　asked。



〃Lucy　Mokunui？〃　I　repeated；　haunted　by　some　familiar　association。　　I　

shook　my　head。　　〃It　seems　to　me　I've　heard　the　name；　but　I've　

forgotten　it。〃



〃Never　heard　of　Lucy　Mokunui！　　The　Hawaiian　nightingale！　　I　beg　your　

pardon。　　Of　course　you　are　a　malahini；　｛1｝　and　could　not　be　expected　

to　know。　　Well；　Lucy　Mokunui　was　the　best　beloved　of　Honoluluof　

all　Hawaii；　for　that　matter。〃



〃You　say　WAS；〃　I　interrupted。



〃And　I　mean　it。　　She　is　finished。〃　　He　shrugged　his　shoulders　

pityingly。　　〃A　dozen　haolesI　beg　your　pardon；　white　menhave　lost　

their　hearts　to　her　at　one　time　or　another。　　And　I'm　not　counting　in　

the　ruck。　　The　dozen　I　refer　to　were　haoles　of　position　and　

prominence。〃



〃She　could　have　married　the　son　of　the　Chief　Justice　if　she'd　wanted　

to。　　You　think　she's　beautiful；　eh？　　But　you　should　hear　her　sing。　　

Finest　native　woman　singer　in　Hawaii　Nei。　　Her　throat　is　pure　silver　

and　melted　sunshine。　　We　adored　her。　　She　toured　America　first　with　

the　Royal　Hawaiian　Band。　　After　that　she　made　two　more　trips　on　her　

ownconcert　work。〃



〃Oh！〃　I　cried。　　〃I　remember　now。　　I　heard　her　two　years　ago　at　the　

Boston　Symphony。　　So　that　is　she。　　I　recognize　her　now。〃



I　was　oppressed　by　a　heavy　sadness。　　Life　was　a　futile　thing　at　

best。　　A　short　two　years　and　this　magnificent　creature；　at　the　

summit　of　her　magnificent　success；　was　one　of　the　leper　squad　

awaiting　deportation　to　Molokai。　　Henley's　lines　came　into　my　mind：…





〃The　poor　old　tramp　explains　his　poor　old　ulcers；

Life　is；　I　think；　a　blunder　and　a　shame。〃





I　recoiled　from　my　own　future。　　If　this　awful　fate　fell　to　Lucy　

Mokunui；　what　might　my　lot　not　be？or　anybody's　lot？　　I　was　

thoroughly　aware　that　in　life　we　are　in　the　midst　of　deathbut　to　

be　in　the　midst　of　living　death；　to　die　and　not　be　dead；　to　be　one　

of　that　draft　of　creatures　that　once　were　men；　aye；　and　women；　like　

Lucy　Mokunui；　the　epitome　of　all　Polynesian　charms；　an　artist　as　

well；　and　well　beloved　of　men　…。　　I　am　afraid　I　must　have　betrayed　

my　perturbation；　for　Doctor　Georges　hastened　to　assure　me　that　they　

were　very　happy　down　in　the　settlement。



It　was　all　too　inconceivably　monstrous。　　I　could　not　bear　to　look　at　

her。　　A　short　distance　away；　behind　a　stretched　rope　guarded　by　a　

policeman；　were　the　lepers'　relatives　and　friends。　　They　were　not　

allowed　to　come　near。　　There　were　no　last　embraces；　no　kisses　of　

farewell。　　They　called　back　and　forth　to　one　anotherlast　messages；　

last　words　of　love；　last　reiterated　instructions。　　And　those　behind　

the　rope　looked　with　terrible　intensity。　　It　was　the　last　time　they　

would　behold　the　faces　of　their　loved　ones；　for　they　were　the　living　

dead；　being　carted　away　in　the　funeral　ship　to　the　graveyard　of　

Molokai。



Doctor　Georges　gave　the　command；　and　the　unhappy　wretches　dragged　

themselves　to　their　feet　and　under　their　burdens　of　luggage　began　to　

stagger　across　the　lighter　and　aboard　the　steamer。　　It　was　the　

funeral　procession。　　At　once　the　wailing　started　from　those　behind　

the　rope。　　It　was　blood…curdling；　it　was　heart…rending。　　I　never　

heard　such　woe；　and　I　hope　never　to　again。　　Kersdale　and　McVeigh　

were　still　at　the　other　end　of　the　wharf；　talking　earnestly

politics；　of　course；　for　both　were　head…over…heels　in　that　

particular　game。　　When　Lucy　Mokunui　passed　me；　I　stole　a　look　at　

her。　　She　WAS　beautiful。　　She　was　beautiful　by　our　standards；　as　

wellone　of　those　rare　blossoms　that　occur　but　once　in　generations。　　

And　she；　of　all　women；　was　doomed　to　Molokai。　　She　straight　on　

board；　and　aft　on　the　open　deck　where　the　lepers　huddled　by　the　

rail；　wailing　now；　to　their　dear　ones　on　shore。



The　lines　were　cast　off；　and　the　Noeau　began　to　move　away　from　the　

wharf。　　The　wailing　increased。　　Such　grief　and　despair！　　I　was　just　

resolving　that　never　again　would　I　be　a　witness　to　the　sailing　of　

the　Noeau；　when　McVeigh　and　Kersdale　returned。　　The　latter's　eyes　

were　sparkling；　and　his　lips　could　not　quite　hide　the　smile　of　

delight　that　was　his。　　Evidently　the　politics　they　had　talked　had　

been　satisfactory。　　The　rope　had　been　flung　aside；　and　the　lamenting　

relatives　now　crowded　the　stringer　piece　on　either　side　of　us。



〃That's　her　mother；〃　Doctor　Georges　whispered；　indicating　an　old　

woman　next　to　me；　who　was　rocking　back　and　forth　and　gazing　at　the　

steamer　rail　out　of　tear…blinded　eyes。　　I　noticed　that　Lucy　Mokunui　

was　also　wailing。　　She　stopped　abruptly　and　gazed　at　Kersdale。　　Then　

she　stretched　forth　her　arms　in　that　adorable；　sensuous　way　that　

Olga　Nethersole　has　of　embracing　an　audience。　　And　with　arms　

outspread；　she　cried：



〃Good…bye；　Jack！　　Good…bye！〃



He　heard　the　cry；　and　looked。　　Never　was　a　man　overtaken　by　more　

crushing　fear。　　He　reeled　on　the　stringer　piece；　his　face　went　white　

to　the　roots　of　his　hair；　and　he　seemed　to　shrink　and　wither　away　

inside　his　clothes。　　He　threw　up　his　hands　and　groaned；　〃My　God！　　My　

God！〃　　Then　he　controlled　himself　by　a　great　effort。



〃Good…bye；　Lucy！　　Good…bye！〃　he　called。



And　he　stood　there　on　the　wharf；　waving　his　hands　to　her　till　the　

Noeau　was　clear　away　and　the　faces　lining　her　after…rail　were　vague　

and　indistinct。



〃I　thought　you　knew；〃　said　McVeigh；　who　had　been　regarding　him　

curiously。　　〃You；　of　all　men；　should　have　known。　　I　thought　that　was　

why　you　were　here。〃



〃I　know　now；〃　Kersdale　answered　with　immense　gravity。　　〃Where's　the　

carriage？〃



He　walked　rapidlyhalf…ranto　it。　　I　had　to　half…run　myself　to　

keep　up　with　him。



〃Drive　to　Doctor　Hervey's；〃　he　told　the　driver。　　〃Drive　as　fast　as　

you　can。〃



He　sank　down　in　a　seat；　panting　and　gasping。　　The　pallor　of　his　face　

had　increased。　　His　lips　were　compressed　and　the　sweat　was　standing　

out　on　his　forehead　and　upper　lip。　　He　seemed　in　some　horrible　

agony。



〃For　God's　sake；　Martin；　make　those　horses　go！〃　he　broke　out　

suddenly。　　〃Lay　the　whip　into　them！do　you　hear？lay　the　whip　into　

them！〃



〃They'll　break；　sir；〃　the　driver　remonstrated。



〃Let　them　break；〃　Kersdale　answered。　　〃I'll　pay　your　fine　and　square　

you　with　the　police。　　Put　it　to　them。　　That's　right。　　Faster！　　

Faster！〃



〃And　I　never　knew；　I　never　knew；〃　he　muttered；　sinking　back　in　the　

seat　and　with　trembling　hands　wiping　the　sweat　away。



The　carriage　was　bouncing；　swaying　and　lurching　around　corners　at　

such　a　wild　pace　as　to　make　conversation　impossible。　　Besides；　there　

was　nothing　to　say。　　But　I　could　hear　him　muttering　over　and　over；　

〃And　I　never　knew。　　I　never　knew。〃







ALOHA　OE







Never　are　there　such　departures　as　from　the　dock　at　Honolulu。　　The　

great　transport　lay　with　steam　up；　ready　to　pull　out。　　A　thousand　

persons　were　on　her　decks；　five　thousand　stood　on　the　wharf。　　Up　and　

down　the　long　gangway　passed　native　princes　and　princesses；　sugar　

kings　and　the　high　officials　of　the　Territory。　　Beyond；　in　long　

lines；　kept　in　orde